DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR SUBMISSIONS TO NHS’ MENTAL HEALTH CHARITABLE FUND

The Isle of Wight NHS Trust has extended the deadline for applications to the Isle of Wight NHS Trust Mental Health Charitable Fund to 19th March 2021.

This follows a short pause on the fund in December to simplify the application process and to allow additional time for applicants who might be impacted by the pressures of the current COVID-19 lockdown period.

The Trust is inviting applications for a share of the £193,456 grant fund from those interested in helping to support the mental health and wellbeing of people living on the Isle of Wight. This fund comes after a significant donation in February 2020, by the Richmond Fellowship, formerly known as The Isle of Wight Association for Mental Health, made for the purpose of assisting people whose lives are affected by poor mental health on the Isle of Wight.

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This grant fund has been developed by the Mental Health Charitable Funds Group set up by the Trust in collaboration with a number of local partners, including voluntary sector organisations, representatives from the Isle of Wight CCG and Isle of Wight Council. In addition, a separate Service User and Carer panel comprised of people who use mental health services and their carers provided advice and guidance to best reflect and address the needs of those who will benefit from the programmes and projects the grants will fund.

Small grants of £2,000 up to a maximum of £40,000, primarily for one-off projects, will be made available and awarded to projects that will directly improve the lives of people with mental health difficulties, and support the mental health of their families and carers.

Large grants of £20,000 up to a maximum of £180,000, primarily for one-off projects, will be made available and awarded to projects that will directly improve the lives of people with mental health difficulties, and support the mental health of their families and carers. Those eligible to apply for large or small grants include:

• Registered charities
• Constituted groups or clubs
• Community interest companies or social enterprises and those who can demonstrate they can meet the criteria, this includes individual who will be able to apply for small grants.

This grant fund is also open to applications from NHS organisations, provided they can demonstrate that the grant will be used to pay for additional items or a service that falls outside what would be expected to be provided under the statutory role and responsibility, and may not be purchased in the normal course of business.

Both larger and smaller grants will be awarded via the panel of individuals on the Mental Health Charitable Funds Group acting on the advice of the Service User and Carer panel.  This approach aims to encourage a diverse range of applications and to enable both more established and to perhaps see the introduction of brand new ideas that will benefit people with mental health distress and their families and carers who live on the Isle of Wight.

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The judging panel is comprised of the Mental Health Charitable Funds Group and the Service User and Carer panel and the entire process will be overseen by the Trust Charitable Fund Committee. The smaller grant applications will be evaluated by the judging panel and allocated by the end of June 2021. The larger grant applications will be evaluated by the panel and then shortlisted to present to the judging panel in a ‘Dragon’s Den’ format, where applicants will get the chance to share their project and answer any questions. The ‘Dragon’s Den’ rounds will commence in the first half of May 2021.

Dr. Lesley Stevens, Director of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities at the trust said:

“We are delighted to have worked closely with several partners and organisations and most importantly with service users and their carers to arrive at how best to use these funds, generously donated by Richmond Fellowship. We decided to introduce a short pause on the application process after launching the fund at the end of last year to address early feedback to simplify the application process and to allow extra time for applicants who might experience additional pressures as a result of the current Covid-19 lockdown. The process if back up and running and this money will go a long way towards helping those people who are struggling with their mental health, especially at a time where many are facing extra strain because of the impact of this pandemic.

“So, whether you are a charity or a local community group offering tailored activities and expert support or a group of health professionals striving to provide the best possible service, we encourage you to apply for these grants that will provide much-needed funding for those who interested in delivering a programme to support and promote mental health and wellbeing for people who live in our communities on the Island.”

For more information about the IOW NHS Mental Health Charitable Fund and to access the following documents on the IOW NHS Website:

• IOW NHS Trust Mental Health Charitable Funds Grant Application Form – Small Grants 
• IOW NHS Trust Mental Health Charitable Funds Grant Application Form – Large Grants
• IOW NHS Trust Mental Health Charitable Funds Grant Evaluation Form
• IOW NHS Trust Mental Health Charitable Funds Grant Guidance for Applicants
• IOW NHS Trust Mental Health Charitable Funds Declaration of Interest Form
• IOW NHS Trust Mental Health Charitable Funds Terms and Conditions

Applications must be submitted by 19th March 2021. The judges’ panel will review applications with a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style event planned for mid-May 2021 for shortlisted large grant applicants. Decisions will be announced in early summer, with funds available to successful applicants by the end of June 2021.